WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/IT/26/Add.1 
25 October 2006 
 (06-5125) 
Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in 
Information Technology Products Original:   English 
 
 
 
CLASSIFICATION OF SET TOP BOXES 
 
Further Communications from the World Customs Organization (WCO)  
 
Addendum  
 
 The Director of the WCO Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate, in a communication dated 14 September 2006, informed the Secretariat that "t he HSC decided to classify the apparatus as 
reception apparatus for television, in heading 85. 28 (subheading 8528.12) by application of General 
Interpretative Rules 1 and 6." The report of that discussion (Annex F/12 to Doc. NC1004E1b) is 
annexed as Attachment 1. The formal text of the Classification Opinion agreed to during the 
37
th Session of the Committee (Annex O/21 to Doc. NC10592b), is also annexed as Attachment 2.  
  At the same time, the communication also indi cated that "it remains for the HS Committee to 
determine where the product will fall to be classifi ed in the 2007 edition of the HS, since the heading 
and subheading texts will change on 1.1.2007." " The question is on the agenda for the 38
th Session of 
the Committee, which will take place from 2 to 13 October 2006."    On 16 October 2006, the Secretariat received another communication from the Director of the WCO Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate, indicating that during the 38
th Session of HS Committee, 
which ended on 13 October 2006, "the Committee ag reed by consensus that  the same set top box 
would be classifiable in subheading 8528.71 in 2007." However, it also stated that "Pursuant to Article 8 of the HS Convention, Contracting Par ties may enter a reservation on the decision of the 
Committee for two months from the beginning of November 2006. A reservation would normally cause the matter to be sent back to  the Committee for reconsiderati on. In the absence of any such 
reservation, the corresponding change to the Cl assification Opinion will become effective on 
1 January 2007." 
 G/IT/26/Add.1 
Page 2  
 
  Attachment 1
 
  
Annex G/10 to Doc. NC1059E1b 
(HSC/37/March 2006) 
 
  
1 2 3 
NC1021E1a, 
Annex K, NC1057B1b, Annex A/X  Amendments to the Compendium of Classification 
Opinions to reflect the decision to classify set top boxes in subheading 8528.12.  See Annex O/21. 
 
 
 
DECISIONS OF THE HARMONIZED SYSTEM COMMITTEE (O. Eng.)  
 
1. Subject to the deletion of the word "units" in the second sentence the English text and the substitution of the term "un dispositif" for the term  (une unité) in the second sentence of the French 
text, the Committee adopted the texts finalised by the Working Party.   2. The texts adopted are set out in Annex O/21 to this Report.   G/IT/26/Add.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Attachment 2  
 
Annex 021 to Doc. NC1059B2b 
 (HSC/37/March 2006)  
 
 
    
 
  
ANNEX O/21
 
 
AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPENDIUM  OF CLASSIFICATION OPINIONS  
TO REFLECT THE DECISION TO CLASSIFY  
SET TOP BOXES IN SUBHEADING 8528.12  
(See Annex G/10) 
 G/IT/26/Add.1 
Page 4  
 
   
Annex0/21 to Doc. NC1059B2b (HSC/37/ March 2006)   
AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPENDIUM  OF CLASSIFICATION OPINIONS
 
  
Page XVI/25/E
 
 
Insert the following Classification Opinion: 
 "8528.12 4. Modem-based (broadhand) set top box  having a communication function 
 allowing the user to access the Internet, send and receive e-mail through a  telephone line connection, containing a microprocessor memory (128 MB 
 RAM and 64 MB flash memory), two USB ports, audio/video output jacks, 
 phone jack, ethernet jack and built-in  operating and application software 
 optimised for television.  It receives digital signals and converts them for  display on an external display (e.g. television set, video monitor).  It is  presented with a wireless keyboard, a remote control, an audio/video cable, a  phone cord, a telephone line T-splitter,  a registration card, a power supply 
 and setup and user guides. 
 
   Application of GIRs 1 and 6" 
 
Page A/31 E
 
 
Insert the following references:  Column 1  Column 2  Column 3  Column 4 "8528.12         4         NC1059E1b/G/10  " MSN TV2 Internet and 
         Media Player (RM4100)"" 
 
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